I think that military veterans are the perfect candidate for IQbuds. A lot of us have been around repetitive loud noises that’s given us that slight to moderate hearing loss. And I think they’ll be able to find that peace of mind that I’ve found.
My name is Mike Ergo. I served in the United States Marine Corps. I deployed twice to the country of Iraq. My hearing loss began from being around tanks and rockets.
When I got back, I struggled a bit to readjust. The tinnitus comes and goes, but I can notice it more often when I’m stressed. I would be in crowded rooms and it seemed like I could hear all the background, but I couldn’t hear the person right in front of me.
I was in that in-between zone where my hearing wasn’t great, but it didn’t yet warrant traditional hearing aids. And then once I got the IQbuds, I realized this is something that serves me much better than a hearing aid would.
I remember sitting in a restaurant and being able to hear the conversation crystal clear right in front of me without that background hum. And it felt the same as I felt in nature. It felt like I was hearing things clearly for the first time in a long time.
Because my overall stress level is lower, my tinnitus doesn’t flare up as often. I meditate daily. It’s something that helps clear out the mental garbage in my mind and reaffirm my purpose.
I have animals in my house, various appliances making noises. So with the world off feature, I’m able to keep those at bay. I started the Gold Star Initiative with a good friend. She lost her son in Iraq.
The Gold Star Initiative pairs a veteran with a Gold Star family, that is someone who has lost a family member in military service at an Ironman Triathlon. We do this to honor the fallen, help the veteran heal as well as help the family heal at these races which are some of the most positive places you can find on Earth.
I use the IQbuds training and I was amazed that the IQbuds are able to stand not only the jostling of hitting bumps in the bike, but the amount of sweat that came out of my body.
I’ve been able to be much more present with the people I’m spending time with. My family is much more happy with me, which means I’m a happier person as a result. And that’s been a life changing thing for me.
